Day shelter for homeless women seeks to replant itself in Albuquerque

By Marisa Demarco

As Maria helped the new staff of Almas de Amistad set up shop again, she recognized some of the furniture. Couches, shelves and knickknacks from the old Amistad, open for about six years as a sanctuary for women from the streets trying to get clean. Amistad lost a federal grant and shut its doors at the end of February, ceasing the specialized services it provides to homeless and drug-addicted women. "The first week I found out they [reopened], I came and started painting with them," Maria says.

Why are some Albuquerque High School parents atwitter? What surprising discovery did a Santa Fe woman stumble upon? Why did the mayor say he was dropping out of the U.S. Senate race? How is Moriarty helping DWI victims’ families?

Keeping it Querque for Christmas

By Jim Scarantino

To get my Christmas shopping going, I needed a pin and a piece of string. The pin went into an Albuquerque map at the spot where I live. Then I measured the string to match the equivalent of a mile radius around my house and drew a circle.

At the first meeting of the 18th Council--more or less--Councilor Brad Winter was unanimously elected president by the five councilors that showed up, including newly elected Rey Garduño. Debbie O'Malley was unanimously elected vice president.

When it comes to loans, consumers are advised to protect themselves before they wreck themselves

By Jessica Cassyle Carr

For many, consumer credit can provide convenience, easier access to high-dollar items and security not always afforded by cash. On the other hand, misused loans infer a false sense of wealth, leading to financial troubles that may range from minor setbacks to overwhelming crises.

Dateline: Australia--Apparently, Australia was serious about its ban on Jolly Olde St. Nick. Professional Santa John Oakes claims he has been fired for saying “ho, ho, ho” and singing Christmas carols on the job at a department store in Cairns. Temporary employment agency Westaff recently made headlines for ordering its seasonal Santas to say “ha, ha, ha” instead of “ho, ho, ho” because the phrase might frighten children and could be offensive to women. Mr. Oakes, 70, told the Cairns Post, “After my shift on Monday, I got a call from my manager telling me my services were no longer required. I hadn’t done anything wrong so I asked her why, and she said, ‘You said ho, ho ho and that’s not appropriate.’ She also said I wasn’t supposed to sing, but I was only singing ‘Jingle Bells’ to get the kids to laugh for their photo.” A company spokesman for the U.S.-based Westaff said, “The candidate was not sacked nor was his use of the term ‘ho, ho, ho’ a factor in our decision.”

[RE: Letters, “Perverting the Porn Supply,” Dec.6-12] Excellent commentary, Ed. My boyfriend and I were planning to attend Pornotopia to see John Holmes in 3-D, but eventually decided not to, largely for the reasons Ed detailed. Two main reasons, actually.